Positioner for a child being x-rayed



Aug. 28, 1962 J. PlGG, SR 3,051,832

POSITIONER FOR A CHILD BEING X-RAYED Filed April 15, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

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Aug. 28, 1962 J. PlGG, SR 3,051,832

POSITIONER FOR A CHILD BEING X-RAYED Filed April 15, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3.

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Aug. 28, 1962 J. PIGG, SR

POSITIONER FOR A CHILD BEING X-RAYED 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 15, 1960 INVEN TOR.

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United States Patent 3,051,832 PQSITIONER FOR A CHILD BEING X-RAYED Jalmer Pigg, Sr., R. 12, 4633 Airways, Memphis 16, Tenn. Filed Apr. 15, 1960, Ser. No. 22,551 6 Claims. (Cl. 250-50) The present invention relates to an improvement in apparatus for use in connection with the taking of X-ray pictures and in particular to an apparatus for positioning infants and young children in positions in which their bodies may be X-rayed.

Previously proposed and presently in use are devices for immobilizing infants and young children for the length of time necessary to take an X-ray picture of their chest or body. Not all of the devices in use or proposed have been successful for many reasons. Generally, it has been necessary for one or more persons to be in attendance upon a child having an X-ray picture taken of his body in order to hold the child against movement and to position the childs arms away from the body so that a clear picture may be taken. The presence of people other than the technician taking the picture often confuses the child and frightens the child. Also, unnecessary danger is experienced by subjecting the hands of the persons holding the child to radiation by the X-ray machine. An ideal positioning device is one that would enable a single person, such as the technician, to place an infant or young child in front of the X-ray machine and, without other means of restraint, be able to position the child in any position, front, back, side, or at an angle to the front or back without assistance.

An object of the present invention is to provide a positioning device or positioner for a child being X-rayed which enables a single operator or technician to support the child in the desired position and in such a manner as to not frighten the child unduly, and one in which a child may be supported in optimum degree of comfort while the X-ray picture is being taken.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a positioner for a child being X-rayed which lends itself to ease of sterilization, one which lends itself to the support and positioning of infants from a few days old to young children of two to three years, and One which is highly effective in action.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a position for a child being X-rayed which permits a technician to take a series of X-ray pictures of a child through the childs chest and abdomen, from the back, from the front, from either side and at any angle to the side with ease and facility and at a rate of speed determined practically by the rate of speed of changing the film in the film holder.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the positioner according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view, the dotted line showing indicating the body of a small child or infant supported in the positioner;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view;

FIGURE 4 is a view taken on the line 44 of FIG- URE 2, showing the side members in closed position;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, showing the side members in open position;

FIGURE 6 is a view taken on the line 66 of FIG- URE 3; and

FIGURE 7 is a view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG- URE 2.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings in which lice like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several view-s, the reference numeral 10 designates generally a table having a top which constitutes a platform 12. Legs 14 support the table top or platform 12 above a floor surface.

A turntable 16 is mounted in an opening 18 in the platform 12 for rotary movement in clockwise and counterclockwise directions, the opening in the table top or platform 12 being shown most clearly in FIGURE 7.

As shown most clearly in FIGURES l, 4, and 5, the turntable 16 is provided with a pair of side by side spaced openings 20 between the perimeter of the turntable, each opening 20 being elongated and adaptable for insertion therein of one leg of an infant or small child.

A horse member 22 (FIGURES 6 and 7) is arranged between and spaced from each of the openings 20 for supporting an infant or child in a straddled position thereon. The horse member 22 consists in a padded head piece 24 on the upper end of a bar 26 having a plurality of rack or pawl teeth 28 on one side edge.

As shown in FIGURE 6, a dog 30 is slidably mounted in a holder 32 on the upper face of the turntable 16 for movement into and out of engagement with a selected one of the pawl teeth 28. This constitutes means connecting the horse member 22 to the turntable 16 for upward and downward movement and for holding the horse member 22 in any position of its adjusted upward or downward movement.

A slide 34 is disposed transversely of the horse member 22 on one side of the pair of openings 20 and is secured to the turntable 16.

A pair of arcuate-shaped upstanding side members 36 and 38, each of which is transparent to light waves and X-rays, are arranged in face to face spaced relation and are positioned on the turntable 16 between the perimeter and the openings 20 in the turntable 16. One end of each side member 36 and 38 is pivotally connected by a bar element 40, 42, respectively, to a sliding element 44 and 46, respectively, mounted in the slide 34 for limited sliding movement of the side members 36 and 38 toward and away from each other.

As shown most clearly in FIGURES 4 and 5, the midpart of each side member 36 and 38, at the lower edge thereof, is fixedly secured to a foot element 43 and 50, respectively. Each foot element 48 and 50 is secured to the turntable 16 by means of a button 52 which is rotatable to effect a wedging action on the respective foot element, the button 52 being carried upon a block 54, with respect to the foot element 48 and a block 56 with respect to the foot element 59.

A pair of spaced blocks 58 and 60 form a guideway for a film holder 62. The film holder 62 includes an upright 64 mounted on one end of a slid 66 which is biased for movement toward the side members 36 and 38 by means of a spring 68. The slide 66 is slidable in a block 70 which is positionable between the blocks 58 and 60. The upright carries a pair of opposed and facing hooks or grooves between which the film is held, the film being indicated by dotted lines at 72 in FIG- URE 6.

The hooks of the film holder 62 are designated by the numerals 74 and 76 and the lower hook 76 is carried by a carriage 78 slidable upwardly and downwardly on the upright 64. A latch 80 is employed to secure the carriage 78 at any position of its adjusted upward or downward movement.

On the side of the platform 12 opposite to the film holder 62 is a device for exposing identifying indicia to the X-ray film when an X-ray picture of a child is being taken. This device is indicated generally by the reference numeral 82 and consists in a pair of vertically disposed spaced slide blocks 84 and 86 between which is slidable a board 88 on which is secured a plate fabricated of material impervious to X-rays, the plate being designated in FIGURE 6 by the numeral 90. A latch 92 secures the plate and the plate support element 94 in any position of its adjusted upward or downward movement in the blocks 84 and 86.

The plate 90 and the support element 94 are provided with spaced openings 96 (FIGURE 3) over which is slidable a plastic bar '98 mounted in a slideway 10%). Indicia 162 fabricated of X-ray impervious material is carried on the bar 98 and is positionable over the opening 96. The indicia indicates whether the picture being taken is a left or right view of the child supported between the side members 36 and 38.

In operation, an infant is held by the hands and arms and is positioned between the side members 36 and 38 with the crotch of the infant seated upon the horse member 22 and with the legs projecting through the openings in the turntable 16.

The platform 12 and the turntable 16 have cooperating indicia, as at 104 in FIGURE 1, for positioning the turntable relative to the film holder 62.

With the child or infant supported on the horse member 22 and the side members 36 and 38 brought closely under the arms of the child or infant, the film is inserted between the hooks '74 and 76 and the X-ray picture is taken in the conventional manner.

What is claimed is:

1. In a positioner for a child being X-rayed, a turntable rotatable in clockwise and counterclockwise directions, there being a pair of side by side spaced openings in said table between the perimeter thereof for the projection of the legs of a child therethrough, a horse member arranged between and spaced from each of said openings for supporting a child in a straddled position and connected to said turntable for upward and downward movement, and a pair of arcuate-shaped upstanding side members each transparent to light waves and X-nays arranged in face to face spaced relation positioned on said table between the perimeter and said openings and connected to said table for limited movement toward and away from each other.

2. In a positioner for a child being X-rayed, a turntable rotatable in clockwise and counterclockwise directions, there being a pair of side by side spaced openings in said table between the perimeter thereof for the projection of the legs of a child therethrough, a horse member arranged between and spaced from each of said openings for supporting a child in a straddled position and connected to said turntable for upward and downward movement, a pair of arcuate-shaped upstanding side members each transparent to light waves and X-rays arranged in face to face spaced relation positioned on said table between the perimeter and said openings and connected to said table for limited movement toward and away from each other, and releasable latching means on said horse member and said table for holding said horse member in any position of its upward and downward movements.

3. In a positioner for a child being X-rayed, a turntable rotatable in clockwise and counterclockwise directions, there being a pair of side by side spaced openings in said table between the perimeter thereof for the projection of the legs of a child therethrough, a horse member arranged between and spaced from each of said openings for supporting a child in a straddled position and connected to said turntable for upward and downward movement, a pair of arcuate-shaped upstanding side members each transparent to light waves and X-rays arranged in face to face spaced relation positioned on said table between the perimeter and said openings and connected to said table for limited movement toward and away from each other, and releasable holding means on said table and each of said side members for retaining each of said side members in any position of movements toward and away from each other.

4. A positioner for a child being X-rayed comprising a platform having an opening therethrough, a turntable mounted in the opening in said platform for rotary movement in clockwise and counterclockwise directions, there being a pair of side by side spaced openings in said turntable between the perimeter thereof for the projection of the legs of a child therethrough, a horse member arranged between and spaced from each of said openings for supporting a child in a straddled position and connected to said turntable for upward and downward movement, a pair of arcuate-shaped upstanding side members each tnansparent to light waves and X-rays arranged in face to face spaced relation positioned on said turntable between the perimeter and said turntable openings and connected to said turntable for limited movement toward and away from each other, and an upstanding film holder positioned on said platform adjacent to and facing said side members and supported on said platform.

5. A positioner for a child being X-rayed comprising a platform having an opening therethrough, a turntable mounted in the opening in said platform for rotary movement in clockwise and counterclockwise directions, there being a pair of side by side spaced openings in said turntable between the perimeter thereof for the projection of the legs of a child therethrough, a horse member arranged between and spaced from each of said openings for sup porting a child in a straddled position and connected to said turntable for upward and downward movement, a pair of arcuate-shaped upstanding side members each transparent to light waves and X-rays arranged in face to face spaced relation positioned on said turntable between the perimeter and said turntable openings and connected to said turntable for limited movement toward and away from each other, and an upstanding film holder positioned on said platform adjacent to and facing said side members and supported on said platform for movement toward and away from said side members.

6. A positioner for a child being X-rayed comprising a platform having an opening therethrough, a turntable mounted in the opening in said platform for rotary movement in clockwise and counterclockwise directions, there being a pair of side by side spaced openings in said turntable between the perimeter thereof for the projection of the legs of a child therethrough, a horse member arranged between and spaced from each of said openings for supporting a child in a straddled position and connected to said turntable for upward and downward movement, a slide disposed transversely of said horse member on one side of said pair of openings and secured to said turntable, a pair of arcuate-shaped upstanding side members each transparent to light Waves and X-rays arranged in face to face spaced relation positioned on said turntable between the perimeter and said turntable openings, each of said side members having one end mounted in said slide for limited sliding movement of said end toward and away from the other side member, and an upstanding film holder positioned on said platform adjacent to and facing said side members and supported on said platform.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,233,122 Pohl July 10, 1917 2,678,396 Dunn May 11, 1954 2,926,256 Rankin Feb. 23, 1960 

